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Dermatologists have slammed a new campaign by the tanning industry, that promotes the health benefits of sunbed use.
The American Suntanning Association, which launched last month, downplays the relationship between skin cancer and UV radiation and suggests that indoor tanning could even help solve the vitamin D deficiency epidemic.
However the American Academy of Dermatology argues that the organization's claims are 'ridiculous and there is no data to support them.'
Health hazard: Dermatologists have slammed a new campaign by the American Suntanning Association, that promotes the health benefits of sunbed use
The group continues on its website add.org: 'Indoor tanning is dangerous.
'There is compelling scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed medical journals demonstrating that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from indoor tanning devices is associated with an increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
'As physicians who treat skin cancer, we are committed to protecting the public from the dangers of UV exposure'
'The bottom line is that as physicians who treat skin cancer, dermatologists are committed to saving lives and protecting the public from the dangers of UV exposure.
'We discourage anyone from seeking a tan, whether it’s from the sun or from indoor tanning.'
The World Health Organization classifies UV tanning devices as harmful and 'carcinogenic to humans',, but the ASA said that it wants to 'factually dispel these myths'.
Doug McNabb, a board member of the tanning association - which is made up of around 1,400 salon owners - described the group's goal in a podcast last week.
'The sort of mission of the organization that we all agreed on was that our main objective has to be to get more people in tanning beds,' he said.
'The direction we’re going to take is going to be around media relations and regulatory relations that direct people to indoor tanning salons.'
The ASA claims that sunbed studies showing a link between UV radiation from indoor tanning devices and melanomas of the skin and eyes, don't take professional salons into account and instead focus on at-home tanning equipment or medical UV devices.
'When home and medical sunbeds are removed from these studies, the risk connected to professional salons virtually disappears,' an press release states.
Commenting on the ASA's statements DeAnn Lazovich, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, told FairWarning: 'They say, ''Tan responsibly'', but I think it is irresponsible for them to promote their product when we know it is a cause of skin cancer.'
Mission: The American Suntanning Association says it wants to 'correct misconceptions about sunbed salons'
Around 50,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in the U.S every year.
The World Health Organization states: 'As with sun exposure, recent studies indicate a relationship between the use of sunbeds and malignant melanoma as well as non-melanoma skin cancers.'
Its researchers found young people who use sunbeds are 75per cent more likely to develop malignant melanoma.
Around 30 states in the U.S. have imposed age restrictions on indoor tanning and Vermont and California ban anyone under age 18 from using a sunbed.
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